'Interests of Bangladesh': BNP chairman Tarique Rahman's first reaction on India ties after poll win
PTC News Desk: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Saturday thanked Prime Minister Modi for congratulating party chairman Tarique Rahman after party's decisive win in Bangladesh's parliamentary elections, asserting that it look forward to constructive engagement with India to further strengthen bilateral ties.
Meanwhile, Tarique Rahman, who powered BNP to its historic win on a Bangladesh agenda made his stand clear on future ties with India. In his first response after party's landslide victory, Rahman said the "interests" of Bangladesh would be the basis of his foreign policy with India.
"The interests of Bangladesh and its people will determine our foreign policy."
Notably Tarique Rahmna will be sworn in as the next prime minister of Bangladesh , ending the woman rule after nearly 336 years.
Rahman's remarks come in line with his earlier assertion that a BNP government would maintain balanced ties with regional powers like India, China and Pakistan and not treat any country as its "master".
For India, the BNP has generally been seen as a more liberal and democratic alternative to the Jamaat, despite their historically strained relationship. With what was described as the “golden period” of India-Bangladesh ties under Sheikh Hasina now over, New Delhi has already begun reaching out to the BNP.
Sources indicated that the BNP is likely to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the swearing-in ceremony of Rahman, as Dhaka seeks to reset relations with New Delhi following tensions during the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. During his tenure, Yunus had moved closer to China and Pakistan, which reportedly strained ties with India.
On Friday, even before the official election results were announced, Modi was among the first global leaders to congratulate Rahman in a post on X. The two leaders also spoke over the phone later the same day.
"India will continue to stand in support of a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. I look forward to working with you to strengthen our multifaceted relations and advance our common development goals," PM Modi posted.
- With inputs from agencies
